Conversations of the Golden Empires: From the Andes to the Amazon

We embarked on an extraordinary journey from the Andes to the Amazon with leading experts in archaeology and history, Dr. Chris Carter, Professor Julian Droogan and journalist Caroline Baum. Traversing Incan and Pre-Columbian Peru, attendees had an opportunity to ask questions in a fascinating discussion.

The first in our Conversations of the Golden Empires series, this discussion transported us through time, uncovering the remarkable achievements of Peru's ancient societies; from the great deity Viracocha to the reign of Pachacuti, through to the dramatic Spanish conquest.

We entered the gateway to the Peruvian past and broadened our appreciation of history, architecture, religion and culture.

Dr. Chris Carter is a practicing archaeologist consulting in Australia on Indigenous and historical sites. Formerly a lecturer and tutor at the Australian National University from 1996 to 2017, Chris' main research interest lies in the developing cultures of western South America where his PhD research examined the prehistoric economy of coastal Northern Chile, an area inhabited from 9,000 years BP through to the Inca Empire. Chris was also part of an international team involved in mapping Inca trails as part of a successful application to have the trails listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. He has been leading educational tours to South America since 1995, including over 30 tours to Chile, Bolivia, and Peru.

Julian Droogan is a Professor in the Faculty of Arts at Macquarie University. He holds a PhD in Studies in Religion and has expertise in the material culture and history of ancient religions. His research focuses on the connections between ancient history, religion, contemporary politics, and international security. Julian has presented the popular Learning Curve series at the Art Gallery of NSW on the world’s religions (For God’s Sake 1, 2, and 3), as well as on the Silk Road, the medieval Islamic world and Mesoamerica. He has led World Art Tours through South and Central Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Mexico.

Caroline Baum is a leading journalist, podcaster, and author of Only: A Singular Memoir. In addition to hosting the podcast series Life Sentences, Caroline has served as a judge for prestigious literary awards, including the Stella Prize, the Premier’s Literary Awards, and the Walkleys. Passionate about the literary world, each November Caroline curates the True Story Festival at the South Coast Writers Centre in NSW.